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The entire Apparition lesson consisted of everyone spinning in place.
Besides the Gryffindor student who didn't know what he'd done, another student nearly succeeded. Only problem—he forgot his hair at the starting point. Appeared bald in his wooden hoop. Burst of laughter.
The seventeen-year-old had been excitedly confirming all his limbs were where they should be. Heard the laughter. Realized his head felt cooler than usual. Reached up. "Why are you laugh— Ah! What do I do?"
"I like your new look," his friend teased. "Makes you stand out."
Another student agreed. "You're the center of attention now." Though he unfastened his cloak, helped his mortified friend cover up. Walked back awkwardly to the crowd. Stood near Anthony.
The splinched student said in dismay, "Shut up, both of you!" He protected his head with his hands. Kept touching it in disbelief. Trying to confirm he really hadn't brought a single hair.
He seemed popular. Nosy classmates lifted the cloak, poked their heads in to look. Someone passed in a mirror. Then laughed at his yelp.
Twycross waved his wand. The fluffy soft hair still at the original spot reattached to the scalp.
"Very common splinching method with no hidden dangers," Twycross said softly. Voice drowned in excited teasing and laughter.
The student emerged from under the cloak with his recovered hair. Face already flushed red. Eyes darting everywhere. As if searching for something.
"Liz has been watching you," Anthony heard the shielding friend whisper.
The student who'd displayed his healthy scalp to everyone was red as a boiled shrimp. Anthony could almost see steam rising from his head.
"Oh no," he said quietly.
The other friend said, "Don't worry, Rich. I think she's concerned about you."
Anthony curiously glanced toward the other end of the hall following his gaze. A girl was saying something to someone beside her. Kept glancing this way. Landing on red-faced Rich. Quickly looking away.
"Yeah, my shiny scalp definitely left a deep impression on her." Rich scratched his hair. Said glumly, "I'd rather have splinched my head. At least that looks cool."
"Bald is also cool," his friend consoled.
Rich grew gloomier. "I don't think so. I thought I could ask her to lunch today."
After several more practice rounds, Anthony felt himself gradually adapting. Eager to try without the wooden hoop's help. Worried about causing another "cool-looking" splinch.
"Mr. Twycross?" He quickly walked to the Ministry instructor's side. "Is there any chance I could learn the magic to heal splinching?"
He'd noticed that unlike Professor McGonagall's noisy purple smoke when reattaching his head, Twycross had almost silently returned Rich's hair to where it belonged. If he could learn this trick, he could probably practice in Hogsmeade village with peace of mind. After all, unlike students, as a professor he could go to places without Anti-Apparition wards anytime.
The pale, thin wizard turned his gaze to him. Said dryly, "I'm afraid not, Professor Anthony."
Anthony asked puzzled, "Why?"
Twycross fell silent. Just looked at him quietly.
Anthony shrugged. Walked away. Anyway, all four House Heads seemed able to repair splinching. He planned to ask Professor Flitwick first if he could teach him.
By class end, only Anthony and that Gryffindor had successfully Apparated. Rich, who'd lost his hair, never dared try again.
Twycross donned his cloak. Said goodbye to everyone. Apparated away. People in the hall stirred. Slowly gathered their things. Headed toward various staircases. Complained their heads were dizzy from spinning. Still felt nothing. The instructor was like a big white parrot just repeating those three points, as if that helped.
Anthony saw Rich's friends push him hesitantly toward the girl called Liz. Stood speechless.
"Hi, Rich," Liz said proactively. Tucked her hair. "That was great—you almost succeeded!"
Rich said, "What? Oh, right, heh heh... piece of cake." He smiled proudly. Added somewhat guiltily, "I'll definitely do better next time!"
The two walked off as if no one else existed. Discussing today's lesson insights. Left Rich and Liz's friends looking at each other. Made some strange faces pointing at them. Smiled as they followed toward the common room direction.
"Ah, Professor Anthony!" Professor Flitwick spun his chair around. Called out in surprise, "I didn't expect you! Come in, come in."
Anthony stepped into the Charms professor's office for the first time. Left and right walls inside the door were bookshelves. Filled with gold-spined or tattered books.
Quills soaked with ink floated over parchment. The messy desk piled with various instruments and charts. Silver glittering trinkets flew near the ceiling. Formed footprints in the air when Anthony entered. Reminding Professor Flitwick of the visitor's position.
"What happened, Professor Anthony?" Professor Flitwick said. "You don't often come here! I remember you should... aha, let me guess—something about Apparition?"
He waved his wand, closed the office door. Commanded a plain armchair by the door to run to Anthony's legs. Invited him to sit.
Anthony laughed. "Completely correct." He sat in the comfortable armchair. Accepted the teacup Professor Flitwick passed over. Felt like he'd just changed time and place for afternoon tea.
Especially when he'd first joined the school—he'd spent most afternoon tea times getting Charms tutoring from Professor Flitwick.
He told Professor Flitwick about his relatively successful Apparition lesson (at least he hadn't lost anything again). Asked, "Could you teach me the magic to repair splinching?"
Professor Flitwick said happily, "Of course, of course! Though it complements Apparition—essentially similar to Side-Along-Apparition..."
Because still under Anti-Apparition spell coverage, Anthony only learned the theoretical part from Professor Flitwick.
He looked at the notes on parchment. Said, "Hmm... I still don't understand how Mr. Twycross managed silent splinching repair." If he was going to practice in Hogsmeade village, even finding the most secluded corner, best not to make every splinch as attention-grabbing as setting off firecrackers.
Professor Flitwick also grew interested. Set down his teacup. Took his parchment and began writing and drawing. "Let me try..." After a while, he shook his head puzzled. "No, unless you can eliminate the crack accompanying Apparition, this sound is almost inevitable."
"This sound can be eliminated?" Anthony asked.
Among beginners, he should already be quite quiet. But still accompanied by an air-tearing crack that made him want earplugs. Even Twycross appeared each time with Apparition's signature noise.
Professor Flitwick shook his head. "Shouldn't be possible. I remember all Apparition-related theoretical models include... unless he didn't use... ah, I think I understand." He shook his head.
"What?"
Professor Flitwick blinked. Hinted, "Pomona mentioned before—Twycross has been working at the Ministry, but should have only entered the Apparition Test Center the year before last."
Anthony completely didn't understand what this meant. "So he got promoted?"
"No," Professor Flitwick said. Tried to give more hints. "He wasn't previously employed by the Department of Magical Transportation."
Anthony still didn't understand what he was hinting at. Shook his head confused. "Anyway... in short, his method of repairing splinching differs from what we just discussed, right?"
"Mm, yes." Professor Flitwick thought. Said, "Have you heard of the Department of Mysteries, Professor Anthony?"
Anthony felt the name somewhat familiar. Couldn't remember.
Professor Flitwick saw his blankness. Explained proactively, "It's a department researching the nature of magic... I almost worked there. Because all content is confidential, employees are also called Unspeakables. Mr. Twycross was probably there before, so he can't teach you." He added somewhat complainingly, "None of their research results get published."
"Can't tell others, but can use it publicly?" Anthony shook his head. "Considering it's the Ministry, I'm not very surprised."
"Confidential content can't be spoken, but once some things become instinct, they're not so easy to restrain." Professor Flitwick waved his hand tolerantly. "He should have usage authorization. Maybe he discovered it."
A researcher who'd signed confidentiality agreements, with institutional permission, using part of previously accumulated knowledge in his new position—after all, once you know, it's hard to pretend you don't... Considering from this angle, things seemed much more reasonable.
Anthony nodded. Stopped wondering how Twycross managed silence. Turned curious about something else.
"How do you know so much, Professor Flitwick?" he asked admiringly. Looking at the cheerful Charms professor sitting on his high chair.
Professor Flitwick sipped his tea. Said mysteriously, "You know, if you've been a professor long enough... all right, all right. I have several friends who work or worked at the Department of Mysteries. And Mr. Twycross was once my student."
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